Filling device for shells



a May 19, 1942. G. D. RoGERs FILLING DEVICE FOR SHELLS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Deo. 9, 1940 .Muna/,

Attn-fijo@ v u n Z E L m llllll= Fig My19,f1942. G, D, ROGERS y2,283,230

FILLING DEVICE FOR SHLLS Filed Dec. 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Att n vney-May 19, 1942. G, D, RQGERS 2,283,230

FILLING, DEVICE FOR SHELLS lNvENToR E1 Env' E ILT? l: 21H5 BY @MMATTORNEYS May 19, 1942.

G. D. ROGERS FILLING DEVICE FOR SHELLS Filed Dec. 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet4 Figi lNvENToR Even-H EIL'RDEla-r'a BY 5%@ ATTQRNEYS Patented May 19,1942 irse? stares FILLING DEVICE Fon sHnLLs George D. Rogers, UnitedDover, N. J.

vStates Army,

Application-December 9;"1940, Sernin. 369,271

' 10 claims. (01.221--1125 (Grantedundert'he act of March s, i883', as'

'amended April so, v,12328; 3io o. G. 757) This invention relates to ameasuring device which is particularly adapted to be used in ineasuringand dispensing predetermined volumes of explosive filler forYintroduction in explosive shells or bombs, but is not limited to thesinglefpurpose stated as it is also of utility in measuringpredetermined volumesv or bulks `of any desi-rable fluent material. l n

It'is an object of the invention to provide a simple, efficient andimproved device for intermittently measuring' predetermined volumes ofuent material, positive in its action, and having the movingpartsarranged in compact functionalV relation so arranged as to permit, readyand thorough cleansing.

Fig. 1- is a side elevation of a measuring de- "vice `embodying theconcept of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2.-'-2 of Fig. 1looking in the direction of the arrows; f Y

Fig. 3,' is aV top plan VView of' the structure shown in Fig. 1'; Y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the lower valve of Fig. 2shown partially'in section;

Fig; 5 is a partial sectioni ofY the measuring device showing a modifiedvalve actuating linkage in elevation; f

Fig. 6` is a view partially in elevationv and partially in sectionshowing a gang measuring device embodyinganother modified valveactuating linkage; v Y n y Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken upon theline 1 1 of Figli; n

Fig. 8 is an enlarged View showing the details of one of the valveactuating linkages of Figs. 6 and 7, and ,n

Fig. 9 is a view of a modii'ed measuring sump or cup for use with thedevice shown in Figs. 6 to 8.

Referring now to the drawings by characters of reference and moreparticularly to Fig. 2 there is disclosed a container or reservoirgenerally indicated at I0, which may beI of any desirable configuration,volume and construction; but, herein shown for the purpose at hand ascomprising a generally cylindrical structure having. spaced parallelinner and outer side wall members I l and I2 joined at their upper edgeportions by an annular plate i3 in sealed relation and having bottomportions indicatedY generally tablishing chamber 255, and outlet i9 and.vice-versa is proat Mv and l5, respectively, disposed infspaced sealedrelation. Y v

The bottom portion ,lltf includes an annularl inwardly sloping member Hiconcentricallysecured at its outer peripheral portion to the wall Hv insealed relation and a cylindrical depending measuring cup or sump-l1,ofany predetermin'edvolurne secured at its upper peripheral edge portionto` the inner peripheral portion o-f the annular member i6 in `flush andsealed relation.` The bottom portion of the cup I1 is inwardly inclined`conveniently on substantially the sameslopezas the annular member lr6and has secured thereto in coaXially-disposedrelation a dependingtubular outlet member IS. The outer bottom portion l5` comprises-theinwardly sloping member 20 secured at its outer peripheral `portion toVthe lower edge portion of wall member lf2 in vsealed relation and anintegral or similarly aixed cylindrical depending` member enclosing theoutlet member i9 in spaced coaxial relation with the lower portionirl-turned. or provided with a flange as at 2.2-secured to the. tubularoutlet in sealed relation.' j

' Inlet and outlet couplings l23 and 24 are affixed to the dependingcylindrical member 2i and wall member i2., respectively, which. providesfor the circulationof a suitable heat transfer medium between thespaced. walls of the reservoir if desired. Y v

Mechanism` for first cutting off intercommunif cation betweenthereservoir orstorage chamber and the measuringechamber 25 formed by themeasuring cup o-r sump I1 and thereafter esintercommunication betweenthe vided which comprises a pair of reciprocal valves 21, 28 andasuitable linkage generally indicated at 29A adaptedto relativelyreciprocate the valves in proper relation.

l Valve 21,' which closes theingress opening of the tubular outlet I9attached to theV cup I1, comprisesfa circular valve element 3i! pressfitted on the valve stem and having a lower inwardly inclined surfaceV3l corresponding substantially with the, slope of'bottom I3 of themeasuring cupvand `a plurality of circumferentially spaced dependingclearing iingers 32 disposed coaxially ofk the .elementil on a radiusadapting them to snugly iit within the tubular outlet member I9. Thejunction of the outer surfaces of fingers 32 with theksuriace 3l oi thevalve element is undercut to form an annular groove 33. adapted toreceive a gasket' 34 of any` suitable' character and a valve stem oractuating rod 35 is coaxially secured to the upper face of the valveelement 38 extending upwardly to a suitable position without thereservoir where it is terminated in a portion of reduced section 36forming the shoulder 31 and having a transverse opening 38 therethroughin proximity of its upper end.

The valve 28 closes the ingress opening of the measuring cup I1 leadingfrom the reservoir chamber 25 and comprises an annular valve element 39provided with a lower spherical surface 40 adapted in the seatedposition of the element to slightly protrude into the chamber 26 tocompact the material therein and force occluded gases in the materialthrough a vent as hereinafter more particularly described. Valve element39 is slidably fitted over the valve rod 35 in snug relation and has itsspherical face 40 undercut at 4I to receive an annular gasket 42 of anysuitable character adapted to seat upon the inner edge of the annularbottom forming member I6 in fluid sealed relation. A valve actuatingstem 430i tubular section is secured to the upper face of valve element39 and extends upwardly to a position without the reservoir inconcentric relation to the valve stem or rod 35 where it is terminatedadjacent the shoulder 31 on the latter rod. The valve stem 35 is alsoformed to provide a stop 44 so that when the valve 28 assumes theposition shown in Fig. 2 it will engage the stop 44 and prevent furtherrelative movement of the valves 21 and 28 upon exertion of an upwardforce on the valve stem 43 urging the valve 28 to a position above whichit occupies in Fig. 2.

Valve 28 and the cooperating portion of valve stem 35 form a snugsliding fit to prevent flow of material in the reservoir chamber intothe tubular valve stem 43 when the valve 28 is in the raised positionshown. Intermediate the valves 21'and 28 the valve rod 35 is grooved asat 45 in suchlmanner that the groove will establish intercommunicationbetween the chamber 26 and interior of valve stem 43 when the valve 28is in its seated position and the valve 21 is in its raised positionwhereby chamber 26 will be in unobstructed communication with atmospherethrough the tubular valve stem 43.

The linkage system 29 for actuating the valves comprises a pair ofopposed plates secured to opposed side portions of the valve stem 43 inupwardly extending relation with their upper end wall member I2. Astandard 55 is secured to the wall member I2 in upstanding relation andis slotted as at 56 to receive the projecting end of the lever 52 insuch manner that the lever will engage the upper surface of the slotunder the action of spring 49 when the valves are as shown in Fig. 2. Anactuating lever 51 is pivoted at one of its ends 58 to the valve stem 35within opening 38 and extends outwardly through the slot in standard 55to provide a substantial hand grasp portion 59. The end of lever 52projecting without the standard 55 is connected by the link 60 to anintermediate portion of lever 51.

In the operation of the form of the invention thus far disclosed,assuming that the valves 21 and 28 occupy their normal positions asdisclosed in Fig. 2 with lever 52 engaging the upper surface of slot 56the reservoir will be filled with any desirable fluent material and asuitable heat transfer medium will be circulated between the walls ofthe-reservoir to keep the material inthe reservoir in the proper stateof fluidity, if necessary. When the reservoir is lledthe sump ormeasuring cup chamber 26 will be lled through the opening past theraised valve 28 and the device is now conditioned to dispense measuredvolumes of the material. The lever 51 is depressed by the portion 59which causes the lever 52, through the link 68, to fulcrum about itspivot 53 and therethrough depress the plates 46, valve stem 43 and valve28 against the action of spring 49 resting on the valve stem which atthis moment is immovable downwardly because of the interengagementbetween the valve 21 and its seat upon the bottom I8 of the measuringwell I1. When the valve 28 is .depressed sufficiently to engage its seaton the bottom member I6 communication between the chambers 25 and 26will be obstructed and valve stem 43 will be immobilized against furthermovement of depression.

Continued depression of the lever handle 59,A1

after engagement of the valve 28 with its lseat will cause the lever 51to fulcrum about its connection with link 60 and raise the valverod 35thereby unseating the valve 21 and providing for the discharge of thecontents of the measuring j cup chamber 26 through the tubular outletI9.

sition the vent 45 will straddle valve 28 to estabportions inwardlyconverged and terminating in spaced parallel portions. If desired theplates 46 may be reinforced by the transverse strut 41 as shown in Fig.2 .and intermediate its ends an apertured spring abutment 48 is securedin such manner as to slidably receive the reduced portion 36 of thevalve stem 35 below the opening 38 therein when the valves are disposedas shown in Fig. 2. A spring 49 is interposed between the shoulder 31 onrod 35 and spring abutment 48 compression to normally retain the valvesin the position shown in Fig. 2 with valve element 39 engaging the stop44. A lever supporting bracket Y 58 of any suitable construction, suchas, a pair of upwardly and outwardly converging legs 5I secured to thewall member I2 and having their outer end portions disposed in spacedparallelism and terminating just slightly below the level of the normaluppermost position of the plates 46 is provided to support one end of agenerally horizontal disposed lever 52 pivoted as at 53 to the bracket50. The lever 52 is pivoted intermediate its ends at 54 to the upper endportions of the plates and projects a slight distance beyond the Whenthe valve 28 is held in its seated position by retaining the leverhandle 59 depressed and the valve 21 correspondingly held in its raisedpolish communication with atmosphere past the valve 28 andfacilitate'discharge of the contents of the chamber 26. In the seatedposition of valve 28 the spherical face 40 will act to ensure that thewell I1 will be filled with the same v`olume each time it is iilled bypositively engaging the upper surface of the contents in the cup; and

` K the clearing iingers 32 on valve 21 will keep v60 attached to theplates 46 undersufcient. initial the tubular member I9 cleared ofobstruction as well as serve to guide the valve.

When the -measuring chamber 26 is exhausted of its contents the leverhandle 59 is simply released and the valves will be returned to theirnormal position of Fig. 2 by the spring 49.

In themodied form of valve actuating linkage shown in Fig. 5 the bracket60 is perforated to receive the upper end portion of valve stem 35 andis suitably secured to any stationary support, which may be thereservoir. A spring 6I is interposed between the valve stems 35 and 43as shown and acts in the same manner as spring 49 to keep the valves 21and 28 in the normal relative position of Fig. 2. A lever 62 is pivotedai? 011 end to the upper end of valve stem 35 and pivoted intermediateits ends by a link 68 to a lever rigidly connected to the valve stem 43.

Upon depression of the free end of lever 62' the f same relativemovementsof valves. 2Bl and 21, will take place in the same sequenceasin the form hereinbefore described, except in this form a spring 65interposed between a relative stationary support 66 and the valve stem35 is substituted for Y the standard 55V and acts to normally seat thevalve 21 While spring 6I acts to normally unseat valve 28 when valve 21is seated.

In the gang measuring and loading device,

shown in Figs. 6 to 9 there is provided a reservoir 61 of generallyrectangular shape in horizontal section formed by spaced inner and outerside walls 68 and 69, joined in uid sealed relation`to spaced inner andouter bottom walls 1D and 1I, respectively. 'The `bottom walls 10. and1l eX- tend inwardly from opposed side walls in down-Y wardly convergingrelation and are secured in any convenient manner in iiuid sealedrelation to a bottom plate 12 disposed medially of the reservoir. Thebottom plate 12 is `formed with a plurality of aligned bores 13corresponding to the number of measuring cups or chambers with which thedevice is to be equipped and chamber forming members or cups 14 ofsimilar construction are secured to the plate 12 in axial alignment witheach of the bores 13. Conveniently the cups 14 are of the same generalconstruction as the cup l1 and are secured to a plate member 15 so boredas to receive the upper end portions thereof in fluid sealed relation asindicated in Fig. 8.

In order to circulate a heat exchange medium about the cups 14 they areenclosed by a casing 18 having parallel side and end walls secured tothe plate 15 in sealed relation and an arcuate bottom wall through whichthe tubular outlets 11 of the cups 1:3 project in sealed relation` Asuitable heatving or cooling medium may be circulated about handle 92and may be freely oscillated about its axis. v

As clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the upper end portions of the, valve`stems 84 project through one leg `of an-angle iron support 93 carriedby a wall member 94 secured to the rear edge portions of thewallprojections 9| and are operterposed between the angle support 93 andcollars on the valve stems 8d under an initial loading as shown in Fig.8. Theflinkage for actuating each 'pair of cooperating valve stemscomprises a lever 95 secured intermediate its ends to the shaft` 99, alever 91 secured at one end through a suitable pin inserted in the slot88 of the valve stem B and pivotally interconnected at its other endwith lever 9.8 by means of a link, 9S, a lever 98 having the cups 14within casing 16 through the inlet and outlet therein as indicated at 18and 19, respectively.

The plate 15 with its assembled cups and casing is detachably securedto` plate 12 in any desirable manner, as by the stud fastenings 80, withthe cups 1li in axial alignment with the cooperating bores 13 in plate12, and a suitable gasket 8l interposed between the plates 12 and 15 tofor a sealed connection. Y

Each cup 14 is controlled by a pair of cooperating valves 82 and 83similar in construction to the valves 21 and 28, respectively, of Fig.2. The valves 82 are each provided with a valve stem 84 slottedintermediate its ends as shown at B5 and adjacent its upper end at S9for purposes hereinaiter made moreapparent. The valves-83 are axiallybored to receive the valve stems 84 in snug sliding relation and arecounterbored to receive tubular valve stems 81 disposed concen tricallyof the Valve stems 84 as clearly shown in a bifurcated end 199 pivotallyreceiving the pins 89 of the bushing 88 secured to valve stem S1 andpivotally interconnected at its other end with lever 95 bymeans of alink IBI, and a link |82 pivotally interconnecting the levers 91 and 99intermediate their ends. A spring |83 is secured between the levers 91and 99 of each linkage to normally hold the valve 88 in its uppermostposition relative to the valve 82.V When Valve 82 is raised and valve 83lowered the slot 85 in valve stem 84 will establish intercommunicationbetween the interior of valve stem 81 and the cup M thus permittingcommunication with atmosphere through ports IMV in the upper endportionV of valve stem 81. v

The top of the reservoir may be closedbva hinged closure 85, which canbe raised to give access to the shaft 99 and associated valve actuatinglinkages, and arclosure plate |96` hinged to the wall member 9d adaptedto be raised to give access to the interior of the reservoir.

For the purpose of rendering the device` capable of use for dispensingmeasured amounts of explosive or similar substance of differentquantities, measuring cup units having measuring cupsv 14 of dilferentvolumes, as shown in Fig. 9 may be substituted for the cup unit shown inFig.l 8. The cups 'lll' of Fig. 9 are smaller than those shown in Fig. 8but have their upper end portions enlarged to conform to the bores 13 inbottom plate 12 of the reservoir.

As well understood in the art a heat exchange medium may be circulatedbetween the inner and outer walls defining the reservoir 81 in anysuitable manner and a vent stack |81 and deluge connection 188 maybeprovided if desired.

Theoperation of this form of the invention is very similar. to that ofthe form shown in Fig. 2.

. With the reservoir lled or partially filled with explosive or similarsubstance and the valves Fig. 8. The upper end portions of the valvestems 81 have secured thereto bushings 88 which receive the valve stems84 in snug sliding relation and are provided with opposed pins 89 for apurpose made clear subsequently.

rlhe actuating linkage for each pair of cooperating valves 82 and 83 isidentical in construction and all of the linkages are simultaneouslyoperable by common means, to which end a rock shaft 90 is journalled inany suitable manner to extensions 9| of the inner walls 68 of thereservoir 61 in parallel relation to the cups 14. The shaft 98 isprovided with an actuating disposed as shown in Fig. 8 the cups 14 or 14will be lled. Vessels, such as bombsor shells, are disposed one undereach tubular outlet 11. The actuatingY handle 92 is depressed therebytending to rotatefshaft 98 and the lever 95 and links 98,

IGI of each linkage counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 8, which willresult in lever 99 pivoting about its fulcrum on link I 02 and the-lever91 pivoting about its fulcrum on valve stem 84 to depress valve stem 81and seat valve 83 on bot-r tom plate 12 in closing relationto bore 13.After valve 83 isY seated upon the bottom plate 12 the lever. 99 willpivot about the pins 89 on bushing:

88 upon continued depression of handle 92 and the lever Sl will pivotabout its fulcrum on link |02 raising the valve stem 84 to unseat valve82 and permit discharge of the corresponding cup 14. In the raisedposition of valve 82 and lowered position of valve 83 the slot 85 invalve stem 84 will establish communication past valve 83 with atmospherethrough the valve stem 8l and perforations |84 thus permitting freedischarge of the contents of the cups 14| therefrom. After discharge ofthe cups 14 the valves may be restored to normal as shown in Fig. 8 bysimply releasing the handle 92 so that the springs 95 and |83 will befree to move the valve stems 84 and 8l to their normally biasedpositions in a manner just the reverse of that above described.

Having now described the present preferredv embodiments of the inventionI claim:

1. In a fluent material measuring device in combination, means forming ameasuring chamber having an inlet and outlet, independently movablevalves for said inlet and outlet, a valve stern secured to the valve forsaid outlet and slidably receiving said inlet valve, means interposedbetween said outlet valve stem and inlet valve biased to seat oneV ofsaid valves and unseat the other of said valves, and means includingsaid biasing means for alternately seating and unseating said valves.

2. In a fluent material measuring device in combination, a reservoircomprising a storage chamber and communicating measuring chamber havingan outlet, a valve in the measuring chamber adapted to be seated toclose said outlet, a valve stem secured to the valve and projecting intothe reservoir, a valve in the storage chamber slidably mounted upon saidvalve stem and adapted to be seated to obstruct communication betweenthe storage and` measuring chambers, a tubular valve stem secured tosaid second recited valve in concentric relation to the first recitedvalve stem, means interposed between said valve stems biased to urgeseparation thereof with said first recited valve in seated relation andsaid second recited valve in unseated relation and means forsequentially seating said second lrecited valve and unseating said firstrecited valve and vice-versa.

' 3. In a fluent material measuring device in combination, means forminga measuring chamber having an inlet and outlet, independently movablevalves for said inlet and outlet, a valve stem secured to the valve forsaid outlet and slidably receiving said inlet valve, means interposedbetween said outlet valve stem and inlet valve biased to seat one ofsaid valves and unseat the other of said valves, means including saidbiasing means for alternately seating and unseating said valves, andmeans in said valve stem adapted to establish communication between theseated.

ing said biasing means for alternately seating and unseating saidvalves, and means in said valve stem Vadapted to establish communicationbetween the chamber. and atmosphere when said inlet valve is seated andthe outlet valve is un- 5. The structure of claim 4 wherein a stuiingbox is provided on said valve operative to engage the inlet valve whenthe outlet valve is seated Aand the inlet valve is in a predeterminedun- 7. In a fluent material measuring device in combination, a reservoircomprising a storagev chamber and communicating measuring chamber havingan outlet, an4 outlet valve in the measuring chamber adapted to beseated to close said outlet, a valve rod secured tothe valve andprojecting through the reservoir, an inlet valve in the storage chamberslidably mounted upon said valve rod and adapted to be seated toobstruct communication between the storage and measuring chambers, atubular valve stem secured to the inlet valve in concentric relation tosaid valve rod, an upwardly extending bracket secured to the reservoir,a first lever pivotally secured at one end to the bracket, meanspivotally connecting said tubular valve stem to an intermediate portionof said lever, a second lever pivotally connected at one end to saidvalve rod, a link interconnecting an intermediate part of said secondlever and the end portion of said rst lever remote from its connectionwith the bracket, means cooperating with said levers to limitoscillating movement thereof, and resilient means interposed betweensaid valve rod and valve stem initially stressed to urge said leversinto one of their limiting positions of oscillation.

8. In a uent material measuringdevice in combination, a reservoircomprising aV storage chamber and l,communicating measuring cham. berhaving an outlet, an outlet valve in the measuring chamber adapted to beseated to close said outlet, a valve rod secured to the valve and`projecting through the reservoir, an inlet valve in the storage chamberslidably mounted upon said valve rod and adapted to be seated chamberand atmosphere when said inlet valve is seated and the outlet valve isunseated.

4. In a fluent material measuring device in combination, means forming ameasuring chamber having an inlet and outlet, a valve for said outlet, avalve stem secured to the valve and projecting without the chamberaxially thereof, a valve for said inlet comprising a symmetrical surfaceadapted to protrude within the chamber in the seated position of thevalve slidably mounted on vsaid valve stem for independent movement,means interposed between said outlet valve stem and inlet valve biasedto seat one of said valves and unseat the other of said valves, meansincludto obstructl communication between the storage and measuringchambers, a tubular valve stem secured to the inlet valve in concentricrelation to said valve rod, a bracket disposed in fixed relation to thereservoir slidably receiving said valve rod, a lever pivotally securedat one end to the valve rod, a linkage interconnecting an intermediateportion of said lever with the tubular valve stem, resilient meansnormally urging one of said valves to seated position, and additionalresilient means interposed between said valve stem and rod initiallystressed to urge the other of said valves to unseated position when itscooperating valve lis seated by said iirst recited resilient means.

9. In a uent material measuring device in combination, means forming ameasuring chamber having an inlet and outlet, independently movablevalves adapted to be seated to close said inlet and outlet, a valve stemsecured to the valve for said outlet and slidably receiving said inletvalve, a valve stem secured to the inlet valve, a rock shaft journaledin a position adjacent the valve stems, a lever secured to the rockshaft intermediate its ends, a lever pvotally connected at one endportion to the inlet valve stem, a link pivotally connecting the otherend portion of said last recited lever with one end portionv of the rstrecited lever, an additional lever connected at one end portion withsaid outlet valve stem, an additional link pivotally connecting theother end portion of said last recited lever with the other end portionof said rst recited lever, a link pivotally interconnecting said leversconnected to the valve stems intermediate their ends, means for rockingsaid rock bar, and means biasing said valves to a position with onevalve seated and the other valve unseated.

10. In al measuring device, means dening a reservoir having a bottomportion provided with an' outlet, a plate having an openingL therein',means for detachably securingr the plate to said bottom portion with itsopeningnin registering relation to said outlet opening,r a measuring cupsecured to said plate with its upper portion in registering relationwith the opening therein, a casing surrounding `the sides and bottom ofthe measuring cup in spaced relation securedto said plate, and anoutlet-member secured to the bottom of the measuring cup projectingthrough the casing.

Y GEORGE DfROGERS.

